Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

Before hand:

Pay as much as you feel comfortable paying to vendors in advance. You do not want to have to carry or have someone else carry thousands of dollars in cash with you the day of.
Count out tips in advance and put them in envelopes.
Tell everyone in the bridal party to be there a little earlier then you want them. This way you will not freak if they are a minute late.


Day of:

Make sure to eat something for breakfast or lunch. You will be running around the entire day and will need some food to keep you going. A hungry bride is a cranky bride.
I had a 3pm wedding. My sister and I ordered in finger sandwiches for everyone to nosh on while they were getting ready. We had a bottle of wine for all the girls to have a glass and relax a bit. It worked really well for us.

Relax and have fun. You have done all the planning to get to this point and there is nothing you can do about it the day of. No matter what silly things go wrong just go with it no one will know except for you and FH.

Hug and kiss everyone, taste a little of the food at your cocktail hour (even if it's off your sister, your mom's or someone else's place)
Have a few drinks but not too much and dance with your guests.

Don't be afraid to tell your vendors what to do they work for you today.

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

* Reapply Lipstick often (have a BM in charge of your powder & lipstick applications)

* Bring Tums, you never know how your stomach is going to react to nerves

* Whatever happens, and I mean whatever happens, continue smiling and reminding yourself that you planned this a long time, you deserve to enjoy it fully. Let other people do the worrying for you. Right as the doors opened for me to walk down the aisle I watched the EMT carry DH's grandmother out on a stretcher. Half way through my reception I found out my grandfather was missing and they had the police & hospitals in 2 states looking for him. My brother in law passed out and then threw up in the lobby of my reception hall and was asked to be removed from the premises. Believe me, keep smiling and dancing - there are other people there to take care of things, there is nothing you can do in your big poofy dress and no one wants to see a sad bride.

* Have tip envelopes ready and marked accordingly. Have someone handle giving them out (best man?).

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

EAT AND DRINK WATER! Just make sure you have food in your system because it will be hours before you actually get to your reception and get dinner! Also, RELAX! I was really nervous the day off...not to marry DH, but I just felt overwhelmed and was trying to picture everything falling into place. ENJOY EVERY SECOND! Don't sweat the small stuff!

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

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Posted by Jan05Bride

* Reapply Lipstick often (have a BM in charge of your powder & lipstick applications)

* Bring Tums, you never know how your stomach is going to react to nerves

* Whatever happens, and I mean whatever happens, continue smiling and reminding yourself that you planned this a long time, you deserve to enjoy it fully. Let other people do the worrying for you. Right as the doors opened for me to walk down the aisle I watched the EMT carry DH's grandmother out on a stretcher. Half way through my reception I found out my grandfather was missing and they had the police & hospitals in 2 states looking for him. My brother in law passed out and then threw up in the lobby of my reception hall and was asked to be removed from the premises. Believe me, keep smiling and dancing - there are other people there to take care of things, there is nothing you can do in your big poofy dress and no one wants to see a sad bride.

* Have tip envelopes ready and marked accordingly. Have someone handle giving them out (best man?).


I second, the pre-labeling tip envelopes...I did that and then we gave them to the best man the night of the rehearsal dinner along with the rings and he handed them out to the right people the day off.

I also agree with the smiling often rule...SMILE YOUR *** OFF! hehe you want great pictures!

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Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

I have alot of advice in my review on he brides review board if your interested!

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

definatley make out tipping envelopes in advance

Constantly reapply makeup

Dont drink too much

Try to enjoy and remember the ceremony as much as possible because it will FLY by!

Eat as much as possible

I did not have a DOC and have no idea what I would have needed one for, EVERYTHING was taken care of without having to ask. Everything was perfect!

Just enjoy and dont stress

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

1. DEFINITELY have you hair and make-up done at your house. You do NOT need to be running around that day.

2.Appoint your father or brother, or some other man, to be the one to make sure everything is running smoothly. My dad did this for us, and I did not have to worry at all!

3. Wake up early enough that you can sit down and watch some tv, drink some coffee and eat something without rushing. We had plenty of time to lounge the day of my wedding, and it made me feel so relaxed!

4. Have the most important women in your life there while you are getting ready. It really makes it a special time

5. Let someone else deal with any money that needs to paid out. Don't be the one doing the tipping, you will drive yourself nuts trying to remember!

6. Make sure your hall serves you dinner at least 15 minutes before the rest of the party. This way, you can eat and then go around and thank everyone while they are eating. We did this and didn't miss one second of our party!

7. Grab at least 20 minutes alone during your coctail hour with your new hubby!

8. Make sure your hall packs you food to take home. You will enjoy it more when you're alone

9. DON'T SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!!!! Enjoy the amazing day. Take time out to look around, be selfish and dance without caring who you should be talking to, etc.

10. Bring comfy shoes for the reception! NO ONE knew I had on flip flops until I got my proofs and you could see them in one picture.




ETA: I bumped the advice thread I posted right after my wedding. Hope it helps!

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

Great advice Ladies! Thanks!!!!...I almost want to print all your commens out so I remember! LOL

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

If you are going to be at your cocktail hour, see as many guests as possible so that you can really dance and enjoy the reception without feeling guilty!

and one more piece of advice...EAT! It's hard but do your best!

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

DO NOT STRESS that day - At all !
Relax, get your hair/makeup done - Have a glass of champagne.....
Ignore anyone who says/does something aggravating .....
GO TO YOUR COCKTAIL HOUR ! - It's a whole extra hour of your Wedding ! WHY miss it ??

And I personally disagree w/ not letting anyone 'separate' you and DH - There are a lot of peple there to see and Thank - You don't want to have to spend the entire night going from table to table......Have a good time, it's a party - There's NO possible way you're ever going to remember every single second of it ! It goes by so fast !! let your DH hit the bar w/ his friends while you get on the dance floor w/ yours - You don't have to be joined at the hip all night ......

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

It's going to be a long day so EAT!!!

Delegate - Give your BP things to worry about for you.

Enjoy the week before the wedding. Don't kill yourself running around and trying to complete projects. If they weren't important enough to get done ahead of time, they won't make a difference.

Relax the morning of. Leave yourself enough time so you don't have to rush. Have everything set aside before hand so you are not running around trying to find things.
(I forgot the ring pillow and almost forgot my crinoline)

Take in every part of your ceremony. It's the most important part of the day!

Hold people at arm distance and lean in when they are greeting you on the receiving line. One good hug can pull your veil right out!!

Don't let people trap you into long, deep conversations. Time goes by so fast and you want to see everyone and have fun!

At some point during the reception, take a minute for you and DH to step back and watch what is going on in the room. Take it all in, it's amazing!

ETA: Even if you don't want formal pictures of each table, have the photographer take candids of each. You'll want to have a photo of everyone who was there.

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

BUMP for future brides...this is such great advice!!

Happy 2006!!!!!

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

1 - Try to relax and enjoy every single moment.

2 - Remember, whatever happens that day is beyond your control so just enjoy yourself and don't let anything get to you.

3 - Take some time (especially at your reception) to look around and take it all in because the night flies and will become a huge blur.

4 - If you don't plan to join your guests in cocktail hour you may want to re-think that over. My DH and I were not planning on doing that but we were taking pictures in the lobby when my guests began to arrive and most of them saw us. My DH wanted to join everyone in the cocktail hour and I'm glad we did because we got all of our hello's out of the way which made it more enjoyable for us once we got into the room. We were able to enjoy ourselves to the fullest. That was one of the best decisions we made that day.


Good luck

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

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Posted by lanabean

Don't forget to reapply lipstick....I wish I'd remembered but I was having too much fun!


Relax, breathe....take it all in. Step back at the party and watch your guests and family celebrating YOUR love and marriage. We did. It was amazing.

If you are getting married at church or wherever--LISTEN to the words, vows, and the priest. It's a moment to never forget. And make sure to get the look on your husband's face when he sees you. My DH said, 'Oh My God!' so loud I could hear him from way back!

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@ DH

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

Some of these may have already been said, so I apologize in advance for the doubles.

**Have Fun It is nice to greet your guests, but don't spend your whole reception doing it. Dance, eat, drink (but not too much). Your guests will understand if you don't make it to their table.

**Don't worry about things that went wrong. Just solve the problems the best you can and go on. There is no use dwelling over imperfections, you will waste too much of your day.

**Don't expect to sleep more than 3 hours. Nobody warned me about this and I actually thought I would get some sleep the night before the wedding.

**Dance, sing, laugh You paid a lot of money and put a lot of energy into this day. Enjoy your DJ, smile for the photographer and laugh with your guests.

**Go to your cocktail hour I was dead set against going to my cocktail hour, but my photographer (who is also a personal friend) encouraged us to go. I am so glad that we did. We greeted all of our guest, they got to see me and FH up close and personal (the cocktail hour was in a much smaller room than the reception), and all of our guests commented on how nice it was to see us at the cocktail hour. It is much more personal because you don't have to scream over music and your guests don't lose you in a big reception room.

I hope these are helpful and if I think of anymore I will post.

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

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Posted by Pmpkn087
**Don't expect to sleep more than 3 hours. Nobody warned me about this and I actually thought I would get some sleep the night before the wedding.

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I was fully ready to dispute this when I hit the quote button but then I thought about it...and I can't! It's totally true! And I'm one of those who can sleep anywhere, any time and nothing keeps me up at night. Except getting married the next day.

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

Definitely re-applly lipstick!

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

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Posted by eroxgirl

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Posted by Pmpkn087
**Don't expect to sleep more than 3 hours. Nobody warned me about this and I actually thought I would get some sleep the night before the wedding.

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I was fully ready to dispute this when I hit the quote button but then I thought about it...and I can't! It's totally true! And I'm one of those who can sleep anywhere, any time and nothing keeps me up at night. Except getting married the next day.

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So true!! I slept maybe 20 hours MAX the entire week of the wedding. The night before I went to bed at 2am and woke up at 5am...well, I needed a dress, didn't I?

This is GREAT advice and so true!

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

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Posted by jackiez

Definitely re-applly lipstick!

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I agree, there were so many pictures of me with no lipstick on

Re: ALREADY MARRIED BRIDES - Post day of advice, Please!!!!

Oh, I have so much advice
First, this is the most important, please make sure you get sleep a few nights before your wedding. Although I slept very well the night before the wedding because of the lack of sleep, the week before was horrible. Not only the 'left to do' things but also the 'what if there isn't enough...' things, kept me up for most of the nights. I honestly was so exhausted the day of the wedding it affected the whole day. WHATEVER you need to do to sleep, please do because you have no idea how it alters the day.

The day before: I'm not suggesting a trial run but try to do one in your mind. How are your parents getting to the reception from the Church? Do you need a car at the Church, how is it going to get there? Eat something. If you are catering something for the girls, who will pick up platters? Tip envelopes assigned to someone? Make sure everythign for RD, CH, Reception in separate boxes, etc.

The day of: Eat something delicious. Forget your diet, this isn't the day to worry about. Just eat something.
If you have a corsette top DO NOT MAKE IT TOO TIGHT. REALLY IMPORTANT. Ask someone you can trust because I made it just a bit too tight and it really showed my chest fat, ruined quite a few pictures
If you have a pimple, alert your photographer. Your make-up artist does an absolutely wonderful job but just mention it to photographer so any close ups are done on the other side of your face if possible. Not a big deal, just an idea.
Make a CD of your favorite songs that rev you up and get you distracted/ happy. Great way to get you started.
Table cameras: it's true that some of them are so ridiculous but so many of them are so worth it that those pictures your photographer doesn't get, your table cameras do.
Cocktail hour: HAVE YOUR PHOTOGRAPHER TAKE COCKTAIL HOUR PICTURES. We have 3 pictures of the tables but none of us meeting our guests. Some guests left right after the cocktail hour because of multiple reasons but our photographers weren't around to take any pictures of them!
Make sure your reception site remembers the top layer of your cake. We didn't get it and didn't even think about it until the next day :(
Day after: DO NOT DO ANYTHING. We took the day off so that we could just relax before heading onto a plane but wound up spending about 5 hours shuttling people back and forth from the aiport. I suggest definitley doing breakfast to say good-bye to everyone but do it from like '9-11.' Our breakfast lasted probably until 12:00 sitting around and talking to everyone.